NEW GEAR AVAILABLE
NIGHTTIME FISHING THE WALL WITH THE GRUB
WITHOUT A DOUBT FISHING BREAKWALLS AT NIGHT IS MY FAVORITE STYLE OF TARGETING CALICO BASS.
Don't me wrong, fishing the islands or local kelp and boiler rocks comes with its allure, but there is something about the simplicity of fishing the wall that I have fallen in love with. Night fishing breakwalls isn't anything new, in fact it is one of the most iconic styles of calico bass fishing. The number of anglers who have caught their PB bass at night off the wall are too many to count, myself included. I'm not here to present any new found knowledge or secret tactics, this is simply a creative outlet for me to share my passion and thoughts regarding calico bass fishing at night specifically with one of my homemade lures.
MY FAVORITE PRESENTATION FOR NIGHT FISHING THE WALL IS THE GRUB I CRAFTED PAIRED WITH A 1/2 OZ WARBAITS LEAD HEAD OR A 1/2 OZ BOONDOCK BAITS JIG.
These companies create some high quality jigs that will hold up against scraping structure and the violent nature of these fish. I almost always use a weed guard as it prevents snags from kelp and eel grass, but I also feel it helps the bait crawl better amongst the structure and prevents it from getting wedged between rocks. My grub isn't anything innovative or fancy, although it does boast a ribbed body for applied scent retention and a thicker tail to hold up against the thrashing nature of saltwater bass. I created this bait because my dad and I noticed we would catch more fish on curled tailed baits over a standard swimbait, however a lot of the grubs on the market were too small or had a rounded body that fit awkwardly on a lead head. I decided the best route was to create my own so with some clay and a lot of sanding I shaped The Grub to have a swimbait body to specifically fit a WARBAITS lead head.
SINCE THEN THE GRUB HAS BEEN MY GO TO PRESENTATION WHEN FISHING THE WALL AT NIGHT.
While we use an assortment of baits, including swimbaits, crankbaits, tubes, etc, fishing The Grub produces well for us. It is a subtle lure that I feel can coax the fish when they aren't feeding. I like to fish it as a trailer for a bulkier profile, but I have found that trimming the body down and fishing it solo on a lead head can produce a lot of bites when things slow down. We like to fish it slowwwwww. Cast it or pitch it tight in the rocks, let it sink accordingly to the depth and drag it over EVERYTHING. A steady slow roll is also effective. There is nothing better than feeling your bait scrape along a rock only to be slammed moments later.
AS FAR AS COLORS GO I HAVE NEVER BEEN PARTICULAR. I VALUE CONSTANT CONTACT WITH STRUCTURE OVER COLOR COMBOS.
I have caught them on everything from chartreuse to mold cleaner (a delicious looking brownish green made from melting all the plastic scraps). What is crucial is the presentation and keeping the bait in the strike zone. I have found that once the bait isn't in contact with structure it isn't going to get bit as much. I like to feel it grinding rock to rock and will often times retrieve it back once I'm out of the zone. We have noticed a lot of the bass we catch on the grub are often right in the rocks. It is a fast style of fishing despite the slow retrieve. You're constantly pitching or casting to every little crevice and crack and will often times get hit on the sink or after a few drags.
OFTEN TIMES THE BASS ARE BIGGER TOO AS I BELIEVE REMAINING IN CONTACT WITH THE STRUCTURE PRESENTS YOUR BAIT TO THE BIGGER FISH.
Big bass have the best holes and don't leave far to feed. They find the best spot of structure where the current and tide work in their favor by bringing the food to them. Side note one of my professors at the University of Montana was part of a study involving bull trout feeding habits and energy conservation. To spare the details they found that bull trout, an apex predator in the fishery, would sit behind large boulders when feeding. These large boulders created a mini whirlpool that allowed to trout to essentially not move at all, they would seemingly float as all the bugs and bait fish would float right into their face.
Anyways, I believe the same applies to calicos in a sense. Energy conservation and territory is huge for these fish so naturally the bigger bass are going to claim the best holes where they don't have to travel far to feed. Your job is trying to figure out what holes are the “best.” I like sections of the wall that have a lot of surge and water movement. Slack sections can be productive but I believe the constant surge of water pushes and distributes bait around for the bass. It also knocks crabs and other crustaceans off the rocks making an easy meal for the bass below. A lot of what we do with the grub is trying to imitate a crab, goby, or bait fish that is knocked off the rocks or trying to find its way back to a hiding spot. That is why a slow retrieve and constant connection with structure is vital. The profile of the grub doesn't match much with a bait fish so you wouldn't just steady wind it out of the rocks like a swimbait or crankbait.
THE GRUB IS MORE CREATURE LIKE AND BUGGY. YOU WANT IT TO LOOK LIKE A CRAB SCURRYING OVER THE ROCKS.
To me that is more fun than slow rolling swimbaits, crankbaits, etc, it can become monotonous to continually retrieve. I like the constant connection and feeling every rock and crack grind against your bait. The hits from the bass are incredible too, they will immediately bee line for their hole. At the end of the day, its just a grub, one of the earliest soft plastics made. I just feel it isn't as popular as the standard swimbait or creature bait these days and deserves more utilization in the modern angler's arsenal. Try a pack out, you will be happy you did.
- Kyle
